Wyebank resident fed up with abandoned property
Kogie Govender told the Highway Mail that the place has been deserted for the past 28 years.
A WYEBANK resident is at her wits end with a vacant property next to her house which attracts unwanted guests and criminals.
Kogie Govender said for the past 28 years, she has had to endure rats, snakes and recently, she received a visit from an iguana. The irate resident said she took it upon herself to maintain the property but she is now fed up.
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“Every month, I have to pay someone R350 out of my pocket to cut the overgrown bush,” she said
Govender said she even fenced the place as besides the animals that crawl into the property, they had an issue with criminals which used the property to gain access to the their homes.
“My house was broken into three times before I reached a decision to fence the place, as the criminals used to gain access by jumping through the back of the site and then gain easy access to our houses,” she said.
According to Govender, the property belongs to the municipality.
“I have made numerous complaints with no luck, I am now tired and I can no longer continue to pay for someone to clean and clear the bushes, times are tough for everyone. “I plead with the municipality to take responsibility for this property, it is just an eyesore and is right next to my home,” she said.
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eThekwini municipality denied that the property belonged to them, saying the respective property is a private property, therefore the onus lies with the property owner to protect their property or surrender it to council should they find them difficult to maintain and/or protect.
“The municipality therefore, does not have the power to act in the absence of an official letter, preferably endorsed by the court of law asking for the City to intervene,” said eThekwini Municipality spokesperson,” Msawakhe Mayisela.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
